Message sent by
Kerry White (Police, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Chiltern & South Bucks LPA)

We have been made aware about a suspicious phone call where someone stated they were working on behalf of the police. They said they were working as part of the crime prevention team and wanted to know about the caller’s home. This is not the police and we would not be carrying out such phone calls. Please be aware and be careful with what details you are passing over the phone.

Almost everyone will be approached by a scammer at some stage. Some scams are very easy to spot while other scams may appear to be genuine offers or bargains. Scams can even take place without you doing anything at all.

Most scams need you to do something before they can work. You may send money to someone based on a promise that turns out to be false. You may give your personal details to people who turn out to be scammers. Some scams rely on you agreeing to deals without getting advice first or buying a product without checking it out properly.

The simple tips below will help you protect yourself and your family from scams. Scams can cost people a lot of money and cause a great deal of distress. By following these simple tips, you can protect yourself against scams.

· If you receive a phone call out of the blue, always ask for the name of the person you are speaking to and who they represent.

· Do not give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.

· It is best not to respond to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you don’t recognise.

· Be careful of phone numbers beginning with 190. These are charged at a premium rate and can be very expensive.

· Look out for SMS and MMS numbers that start with 19. These are charged at a premium rate (sometimes even for receiving a message) and can be very expensive.

· Do not let anyone pressure you into making decisions about money or investments: always get independent financial advice.

· If you do not feel comfortable, just hang up.

If you think you have been a victim of a scam and would like further advice, then please call Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040. Alternatively, please call Trading Standards on 08454 040506.

Sign up for Thames Valley Alert.

The Recreation and Environment Committee considered the vexing issue of dog fouling at its meeting on Monday 25 February.

It was agreed that the Council will pilot an early morning dog patrol at Bells Hill recreation ground, commencing 21 March. A rota of volunteers will be drawn up to patrol the rec. between 6.30 am and 7.30 am daily, to ensure that dog walkers are aware of the requirement to pick up and dispose of their dogs’ mess.

Volunteers will be issued with high visibility jackets and leaflets to hand to dog walkers who do not pick up. They will helpfully point out any fouling by dogs which their owner may not have noticed and point out the nearest dog waste bin.

If you are interested in helping the Parish Council tackle this problem, please contact the Clerk.

Bucks County Council has installed a traffic counter on Rogers Lane as part of the survey, jointly funded by Stoke Poges Parish Council, to identify ways of improving the safety of vulnerable road users, particularly around the start and end of the school day. The traffic flows will inform the recommendation of the most appropriate ways of improving safety for all road users.

The survey report is due by the end of March.

The Public Meeting of 6 February agreed to set up a Fighting Fund to pay for legal advice and representation to stop the Slough-based education company from setting up a secondary school in Stoke Poges.

The Fund is now accepting contributions, by cheque only. Make your cheque payable to ‘Stoke Poges Parish Council’ and ensure that you give your name and address.

Our Clerk will record all contributions received and in the event of a surplus, ensure that it is returned to contributors pro rata. Please post your contribution in the letterbox next to the side entrance of the Village Centre. (There is no need to ring the bell and hand over your contribution in person).

A set of accounts detailing payments will be made available in due course and will be subject to the Parish Council’s regular audit.

A petition has been set up for anyone wishing to register their opposition to the siting of a secondary school at the Pioneer House site on Hollybush Hill.

NB It is still important to make your concerns known to our MP, Dominic Grieve and to the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP. Their contact details may be found here.

The petition may be signed at: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/stokepogesvillage

Notes of the meeting held at The Stoke Poges School on Friday 16 February are available to download.

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After our meeting with our MP on Friday, his advice is as follows:

“Letters that arrive on ministers desk in abundance result in them taking notice.”

Please find some time to write to:

Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Education

House of Commons
London

SW1A 0AA

ministers [Email address: ministers #AT# education.gsi.gov.uk - replace #AT# with @ ]

Rt Hon Dominic Greive QC MP

Disraeli House

12 Aylesbury End

Beaconsfield

HP9 1LW

dominic.grieve.mp [Email address: dominic.grieve.mp #AT# parliament.uk - replace #AT# with @ ]

Points you may include:

Slough and beyond education need being met in South Bucks – unfair and unnecessary disruption to South Bucks, where education provision is already excellent and the need for a Free School does not exist.

The proposal to bus children from London boroughs is against the principles of sustainability. The school should be sited closer to the children to minimise journeys, congestion and polluting carbon emissions.

Harm to a quiet residential area and surrounding roads. No more building in Green Belt.

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill, allowing change of use to office buildings should only apply to town centres, where there is surplus space, not to Green Belt sites.

Inequality in announcing and promoting the availability of 2013 Year 7 places to the Sikh community but not to South Bucks parents.

Misleading press announcements which were unclear about the consultation process and implied that the school opening was certain.

Segregation of ‘parent’s and ‘residents’ at exhibition nights and giving different questionnaires to the two groups. The ‘resident’ questionnaire did not ask the key question about whether the trustees should sign the agreement with the Secretary of State.

Putting undue pressure on the Parish Council for immediate decisions, without regard for the democratic process and alleging political bias.

The Secretary of State should refuse Slough Borough Council’s application to demolish the Arbour Vale school, when there are three Free Schools looking for sites in Slough.

From Thames Valley Alert.

We have recently seen an increase in theft of catalytic converters from vehicles. With increasing scrap metal prices this has become a problem across the whole country.

The Police are working with local scrap yards and garages to tackle metal theft and South Bucks Community Safety Partnership is offering advice to residents and businesses to help prevent the theft of catalytic converters.

Who is at risk?

Vehicles with a higher clearance such as people carriers, 4x4s and vans are targeted more than other vehicles as it is easier for criminals to get underneath and access the converters, meaning thefts can take as little as 60 seconds.

Locally the most targeted vehicles during recent months have been people carriers – namely Volkswagen Sharan, Seat Alhambra and Ford Galaxy’s.

What simple steps can you take to protect your vehicle?

Park strategically & use garages
Homeowners are urged wherever possible to park their vehicles in garages. If not possible, park in view of housing or in busy and well-lit areas. Commercial vehicles should be kept in a locked building or compound if available. To prevent access to the underneath of your vehicles, try to block high clearance vehicles by walls or hedges or use other vehicles with a lower clearance.

CCTV / Alarms
The installation of CCTV to cover parking areas can help reduce theft. The use of driveway alarms can help alert you to anyone trespassing on your property.

Security Lighting
Good security lighting can make vehicles more visible, improving natural surveillance to deter thieves. On a driveway consider using motion sensor lighting. External dusk to dawn lighting which automatically stays on during the hours of darkness and goes off as it starts to get light can be very effective in areas where there is good surveillance from other people.

Security fencing
Fencing is the first line of defence for most compounds and regular checks of fences for damage, ensuring holes are properly repaired will help deter the opportunistic thief. Business managers are advised to think about putting fencing around vehicles to act as a deterrent.

Vigilance
Look out for people working under cars who are acting suspiciously. If it doesn’t look right – report it.

What security products are available?

You can find out more about specially designed security products that aim to protect vehicles against catalytic converter theft by looking online. The use of marking kits and protective clamps among other measures act as a deterrent and help the police to prosecute those that steal or handle stolen property. Your local garage may be able to help you choose and fit these products.

Property marking
There are special marking fluids available to etch a registered security number permanently to the catalytic converter. If it’s stolen and recovered, it will be easier to trace back to your vehicle. Kits include a sign for your vehicle’s window stating that the converter is security marked. This may act as a deterrent to thieves as it will be easier for Police to trace to a theft and reduce the opportunities for selling on the converters at reputable scrap metal dealers.

Welded Bolts
If your catalytic converter is bolted on it is possible to have the bolts welded shut to prevent a thief unbolting it easily with a spanner. However this makes it more difficult and costly if you ever need to replace your catalytic converter.

Clamp it
To secure your converter invest in a specially devised lock, clamp or security cage, and you could save yourself time and money in the long run. Protective coverings are quite expensive but make converters much more difficult to steal.

How can you contact us?

If you have any information which may help the Police with these crimes please call 101 or to give information anonymously you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111. If you see any suspicious activity around vehicles then call 999 immediately.

Friday 15 February, 7 pm – 9 pm

The Stoke Poges School

Stoke Poges residents are invited to a Public Meeting to discuss the proposed secondary school in Hollybush Hill with our member of Parliament.

Questions should submitted in advance to the Clerk to the Parish, either by email or in writing, by 12 noon on Thursday 14 February. The Chairman will call residents to put their question to Mr Grieve, ensuring that all issues of interest are covered in the time available.

The meeting will be standing only, however, there will be a limited number of reserved seats available for residents who may have difficulty standing – residents with special requirements should contact the Clerk.

Cllr Mike Appleyard, Bucks CC cabinet member responsible for Education and Skills and Cllr Adrian Busby, Leader of South Bucks District Council have also been invited.

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The Parish Council meets this evening (11 February) at 7.30 pm in the Lionel Rigby room at the Village Centre.

Khalsa School is on the agenda. The Council will decide its response to the current consultation and will decide on engaging a barrister expert in planning matters. The Public Meeting voted unanimously in favour of so doing.

Cllr Trevor Egleton, who is a governor of Wexham Park Hospital, will be writing to the Chief Executive and facilities manager about the proposed school and traffic issues.

Cllr Egleton is meeting them on Wednesday 13 February and the proposed school is on the agenda.

Two representatives of the Council have a provisional appointment to meet a representative of Pioneer on Thursday 14 February.

Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP will attend a Public Meeting in Stoke Poges on Friday 15 February, at 7 pm. Further details will be announced on Tuesday.